Touch regions in diamond configuration

ABSTRACT

Touch regions in a diamond configuration in a touch sensitive device are disclosed. Touch regions can include drive regions of display pixels to receive stimulation signals and sense regions of display pixels to send touch signals based on a touch or near touch. The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to each other to form a diamond configuration. In an example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or a combination thereof. In an alternate example diamond configuration, diagonal drive regions can be electrically connected to each other via their drive lines, while diagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonal drive and sense region connections can be in a forward diagonal direction, a backward diagonal direction, or combinations thereof. An exemplary touch sensitive device having a diamond configuration can be a touch screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/545,604, filed Aug. 21, 2009, and published on Aug. 5, 2010 as U.S.Patent Publication No. 2010-0194696, which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/149,270, filed Feb. 2, 2009, the contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for allpurposes.

FIELD

This relates to touch sensitive devices having touch regions formed in aparticular configuration and, more particularly, to touch sensitivedevice having touch regions formed in a diamond configuration.

BACKGROUND

Many types of input devices are available for performing operations in acomputing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, touchsensor panels, joysticks, touch pads, touch screens, and the like. Touchscreens, in particular, are becoming increasingly popular because oftheir ease and versatility of operation as well as their decliningprice. Touch screens can include a touch sensor panel, which can be aclear panel with a touch sensitive surface, and a display device such asa liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be positioned behind the panelso that the touch sensitive surface can substantially cover the viewablearea of the display device. Touch screens can generally allow a user toperform various functions by touching or near touching the touch sensorpanel using one or more fingers, a stylus or other object at a locationdictated by a user interface (UI) including virtual buttons, keys, bars,displays, and other elements, being displayed by the display device. Ingeneral, touch screens can recognize a touch event and the position ofthe touch event on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system canthen interpret the touch event in accordance with the display appearingat the time of the touch event, and thereafter can perform one or moreactions based on the touch event.

Touch screens that integrate touch circuitry with display circuitry aredescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/760,080, entitled“Touch Screen Liquid Crystal Display,” and Ser. No. 12/240,964, entitled“Display with Dual-Function Capacitive Elements,” the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.In these touch screens, display pixels can be grouped into drive regionsto receive a stimulation signal and sense regions to transmit a touchsignal based on a touch or near touch. These regions can generally bedisposed in a rectangular configuration with, from left to right, somedrive regions aligning vertically, a sense region extending verticallyalong the lengths of the drive regions, more drive regions aligningvertically, another sense region extending vertically along the lengthsof the drive regions, and so on.

Because of this rectangular configuration, horizontal drive lines fortransmitting the stimulation signal and vertical sense lines fortransmitting the touch signal can cross numerous times in the senseregions, creating parasitic capacitance that can interfere with theability of the touch screen to effectively sense the touch or neartouch. However, to reduce the effects of this parasitic capacitance,more expensive and powerful sensing circuitry may be needed to improvethe signal-to-noise ratio of the touch signal.

SUMMARY

This relates to a touch sensitive device having touch regions formed ina diamond configuration. Touch regions can include drive regions, whichcan have drive lines to receive a stimulation signal, and sense regions,which can have sense lines to transmit a touch signal based on areceived touch or near touch. The drive regions and the sense regionscan include display pixels having capacitive elements for sensing touch.The drive regions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacentto each other to form a diamond configuration for sensing the touch ornear touch.

In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be separate andunconnected from each other, while diagonal sense regions can beelectrically connected to each other via their sense lines. The diagonalsense regions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction,all in the backward diagonal direction, or some in the forward diagonaldirection and others in the backward diagonal direction.

In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can be electricallyconnected together via their drive lines and diagonal sense regions canbe electrically connected together via their sense lines. The diagonalregions can all be connected in the forward diagonal direction, all inthe backward diagonal direction, drive regions in the forward diagonaldirection and sense regions in the backward diagonal direction, driveregions in the backward diagonal direction and sense regions in theforward diagonal direction, and any combination thereof.

The diamond configuration can advantageously reduce the parasiticcapacitance in the touch sensitive device, e.g., by reducing the numberof crossovers in the sense regions between the drive and sense lines.This can result in cost and power savings for the touch sensitivedevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial circuit diagram of exemplary pixels havingdisplay and touch capabilities that can be grouped to form touch regionsin a diamond configuration according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touchsensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between atouch sensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configurationaccording to various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates still another exemplary layout of connections betweena touch sensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configurationaccording to various embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touchsensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates still another exemplary touch sensitive device havingtouch regions in a diamond configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary computing system having a touch screenwith touch regions in a diamond configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 11a illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone having a touch screenwith touch regions in a diamond configuration according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 11b illustrates an exemplary digital media player having a touchscreen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 11c illustrates an exemplary personal computer having a touchscreen with touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various embodiments, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which it is shown by way of illustrationspecific embodiments which can be practiced. It is to be understood thatother embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the embodiments.

This relates to a touch sensitive device having touch regions disposedin a diamond configuration. Touch regions can include drive regions,which can receive a stimulation signal, and sense regions, which cansend a touch signal based on a received touch or near touch. The driveregions and sense regions can be disposed diagonally adjacent to eachother to form a diamond configuration. In some embodiments, diagonaldrive regions can be separate and unconnected from each other, whilediagonal sense regions can be electrically connected to each other viatheir sense lines. The diagonal sense regions can all be connected inthe forward diagonal direction, all in the backward diagonal direction,or some in the forward diagonal direction and others in the backwarddiagonal direction. In some embodiments, diagonal drive regions can beelectrically connected together via their drive lines and diagonal senseregions can be electrically connected together via their sense lines.The diagonal regions can all be connected in the forward diagonaldirection, all in the backward diagonal direction, drive regions in theforward diagonal direction and sense regions in the backward diagonaldirection, drive regions in the backward diagonal direction and senseregions in the forward diagonal direction, and any combination thereof.The diamond configuration can advantageously reduce the parasiticcapacitance in the touch sensitive device by reducing the number ofcrossovers in the sense regions between the drive and sense lines, whichcan result in cost and power savings for the touch sensitive device.

A “diamond” configuration can refer to any configuration in which thedrive and sense regions are disposed in slant, tilt, angle, oblique,diagonal, or otherwise mainly non-horizontal or non-vertical patterns.Among several regions, a group of the drive regions together, a group ofthe sense regions together, or a combination of drive and sense regionstogether so disposed can resemble a diamond shape.

The terms “drive line,” “horizontal common voltage line,” and “xVcom”can refer generally to the conductive lines of the LCD used to transmita stimulation signal. In most cases, though not always, the term “driveline” can be used when referring to these conductive lines in the driveregions of the LCD because they can be used to transmit a stimulationsignal to drive the drive regions.

The terms “sense line,” “vertical common voltage line,” and “yVcom” canrefer generally to the conductive lines of the LCD used to transmit atouch signal. In most cases, though not always, the term “sense line”can be used when referring to these conductive lines in the senseregions of the LCD because they can be used to transmit a touch signalto sense the touch or near touch.

The term “subpixel” can refer to a red, green, or blue display componentof the LCD, while the term “pixel” can refer to a combination of a red,a green, and a blue subpixel.

Although some embodiments may be described herein in terms of touchscreens, it should be understood that embodiments are not so limited,but are generally applicable to any devices utilizing touch and othertypes of sensing technologies.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. Inthe example of FIG. 1, touch sensitive device 100 can have touchregions, which can include drive (D) regions 110 and sense (S) regions120. The drive regions 110 can be configured to receive a stimulationsignal. The sense regions 120 can be configured to send a touch signalbased on a touch or near touch by an object, such as a finger. The touchregions can form a matrix of rows and columns, where the drive regions110 and the sense regions 120 can alternate in the rows and the columns.The matrix diagonals can then have either all drive regions 110 or allsense regions 120.

In this example, the drive regions 110 in a diagonal can be separate andunconnected from each other. The sense regions 120 in a backwarddiagonal can be electrically connected to each other via connection 121.The connections will be described in more detail later. These drive andsense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration for the touchsensitive device 100.

In operation, the touch sensitive device 100 can stimulate the driveregions 110 with stimulation signals to form electric field linesbetween the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions 120.When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region 110,the object can affect some of the electric field lines extending to theadjacent sense regions 120, thereby reducing the amount of chargecoupled to these adjacent sense regions 120. This reduction in chargecan be sensed by the sense regions 120 as an “image” of touch. Thistouch image can be transmitted along the diagonal sense regions 120,which include the sense region that sensed the touch, via theconnections 121 to touch circuitry for further processing. For example,if a touch or near touch happens in the upper left drive region 110,some of the electrical field lines extending to the horizontalneighboring sense region 120 can be affected. The sense region 120 cansense the reduction in charge and transmit the sensed reduction alongthe diagonal via its connection 121 to the next sense region, which canin turn transmit the sensed reduction to touch circuitry for furtherprocessing.

In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the senseregions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in aforward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touchsensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected intheir respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backwarddiagonal directions.

In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can beelectrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally oralternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electricallyconnected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, orboth diagonal directions via their drive lines.

It is to be understood that the configuration of the touch regions in atouch sensitive device is not limited to that shown here, but caninclude any other suitable diagonal, slant, tilt, angle, oblique, andthe like configurations according to various embodiments. It is furtherto be understood that the touch regions need not form a matrix of rowsand columns as shown here, but can form any other suitable layoutaccording to various embodiments. It is also to be understood that thetouch regions are not limited to the rectangular shapes and orientationsshown here, but can include any other suitable shapes and orientationsaccording to various embodiments.

Touch regions, e.g., drive regions and sense regions, of a touchsensitive device can be formed by groups of pixels electricallyconnected together. A touch sensitive device can include a touch screen,a touch panel, and the like. For example, touch regions in a touchscreen can be formed by groups of pixels having display and touchcapabilities, in which the pixels can be used to display graphics ordata and to sense a touch or near touch.

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial circuit diagram of exemplary pixels havingdisplay and touch capabilities that can be grouped to form touch regionsaccording to various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 2, touchsensitive device 200, e.g., a touch screen, can include subpixelsaccording to various embodiments. The subpixels of the device 200 can beconfigured such that they are capable of dual-functionality as bothdisplay subpixels and touch sensor elements. That is, the subpixels caninclude circuit elements, such as capacitive elements, electrodes, etc.,that can operate as part of the display circuitry of the pixels, duringa display mode of the device, and that can also operate as elements oftouch sensing circuitry, during a touch mode of the device. In this way,the device 200 can operate as a display with integrated touch sensingcapability. FIG. 2 shows details of subpixels 201, 202, 203, and 204 ofdevice 200. Note that each of the subpixels can represent either red(R), green (G) or blue (B), with the combination of all three R, G and Bsubpixels forming a single color pixel.

Subpixel 202 can include thin film transistor (TFT) 255 with gate 255 a,source 255 b, and drain 255 c. Subpixel 202 can also include storagecapacitor, Cst 257, with upper electrode 257 a and lower electrode 257b, liquid crystal capacitor, Clc 259, with subpixel electrode 259 a andcommon electrode 259 b, and color filter voltage source, Vcf 261. If asubpixel is an in-plane-switching (IPS) device, Vcf can be, for example,a fringe field electrode connected to a common voltage line in parallelwith Cst 257. If a subpixel does not utilize IPS, Vcf 251 can be, forexample, an indium-tin-oxide (no) layer on the color filter glass.Subpixel 202 can also include a portion 217 a of a data line for green(G) color data, Gdata line 217, and portion 213 b of gate line 213. Gate255 a can be connected to gate line portion 213 b, and source 255 b canbe connected to Gdata line portion 217 a. Upper electrode 257 a of Cst257 can be connected to drain 255 c of TFT 255, and lower electrode 257b of Cst 257 can be connected to a portion 221 b of a common voltageline that runs in the x-direction, xVcom 221. Subpixel electrode 259 aof Clc 259 can be connected to drain 255 c of TFT 255, and commonelectrode 259 b of Clc 259 can connected to Vcf 251.

The circuit diagram of subpixel 203 can be identical to that of subpixel202. However, as shown in FIG. 2, color data line 219 running throughsubpixel 203 can carry blue (B) color data. Subpixels 202 and 203 canbe, for example, known display subpixels.

Similar to subpixels 202 and 203, subpixel 201 can include thin filmtransistor (TFT) 205 with gate 205 a, source 205 b, and drain 205 c.Subpixel 201 can also include storage capacitor, Cst 207, with upperelectrode 207 a and lower electrode 207 b, liquid crystal capacitor, Clc209, with subpixel electrode 209 a and common electrode 209 b, and colorfilter voltage source, Vcf 211. Subpixel 201 can also include a portion215 a of a data line for red (R) color data, Rdata line 215, and aportion 213 a of gate line 213. Gate 205 a can be connected to gate lineportion 213 a, and source 205 b can be connected to Rdata line portion215 a. Upper electrode 207 a of Cst 207 can be connected to drain 205 cof TFT 205, and lower electrode 207 b of Cst 207 can be connected to aportion 221 a of xVcom 221. Subpixel electrode 209 a of Clc 209 can beconnected to drain 205 c of TFT 205, and common electrode 209 b of Clc209 can be connected to Vcf 211.

Unlike subpixels 202 and 203, subpixel 201 can also include a portion223 a of a common voltage line running in the y-direction, yVcom 223. Inaddition, subpixel 201 can include a connection 227 that connectsportion 221 a to portion 223 a. Thus, connection 227 can connect xVcom221 and yVcom 223.

Subpixel 204 (only partially shown in FIG. 2) can be similar to subpixel201, except that a portion 225 a of a yVcom 225 can have a break (open)231, and a portion 221 b of xVcom 221 can have a break 233.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the lower electrodes of storage capacitors ofsubpixels 201, 202, and 203 can be connected together by xVcom 221. Thiscan be, for example, a type of connection in known display panels and,when used in conjunction with known gate lines, data lines, andtransistors, can allow subpixels to be addressed. The addition ofvertical common voltage lines along with connections to the horizontalcommon voltage lines can allow grouping of subpixels in both thex-direction and y-direction, as described in further detail below. Forexample, yVcom 223 and connection 227 to xVcom 221 can allow the storagecapacitors of subpixels 201, 202, and 203 to be connected to storagecapacitors of subpixels that are above and below subpixels 201, 202, 203(the subpixels above and below are not shown). For example, thesubpixels immediately above subpixels 201, 202, and 203 can have thesame configurations as subpixels 201, 202, and 203, respectively. Inthis case, the storage capacitors of the subpixels immediately abovesubpixels 201, 202, and 203 would be connected to the storage capacitorsof subpixels 201, 202, and 203.

In general, a display can be configured such that the storage capacitorsof all subpixels in the display can be connected together, for example,through at least one vertical common voltage line with connections tohorizontal common voltage lines. Another display can be configured suchthat different groups of subpixels can be connected together to formseparate regions of connected-together storage capacitors.

One way to create separate regions can be by forming breaks (opens) inthe horizontal and/or vertical common lines. For example, yVcom 225 ofdevice 200 can have break 231, which can allow subpixels above the breakto be isolated from subpixels below the break. Likewise, xVcom 221 canhave break 233, which can allow subpixels to the right of the break tobe isolated from subpixels to the left of the break.

A drive region can be formed by connecting at least one vertical commonvoltage line yVcom 223, 225 of a pixel with at least one horizontalcommon voltage line xVcom 221 of the pixel, thereby forming a driveregion including a row of pixels. A drive plate (e.g., an ITO plate) canbe used to cover the drive region and connect to the vertical andhorizontal common voltage lines so as to group the capacitive elementsof the pixels together to form the drive region for touch mode.Generally, a drive region can be larger than a single row of pixels inorder to effectively receive a touch or near touch on the touchsensitive device. For example, a drive region can be formed byconnecting vertical common voltage lines yVcom with horizontal commonvoltage lines xVcom, thereby forming a drive region including a matrixof pixels. In some embodiments, drive regions proximate to each othercan share horizontal common voltage lines xVcom as drive lines, whichcan transmit stimulation signals that stimulate the drive regions, aspreviously described. In some embodiments, drive regions proximate toeach other can share vertical common voltage lines yVcom with breaks inthe lines between the drive regions in order to minimize the linescausing parasitic capacitance that could interfere with the receivedtouch or near touch. Optionally and alternatively, the vertical commonvoltage line breaks can be omitted and the lines shared in theirentirety among the drive regions.

A sense region can be formed by at least one vertical common voltageline yVcom 223, 225 of a pixel, thereby forming a sense region includinga column of pixels. A sense plate (e.g., an ITO plate) can be used tocover the sense region and connect to the vertical common voltage linewithout connecting to a cross-under horizontal common voltage line so asto group the capacitive elements of the pixels together to form thesense region for touch mode. Generally, a sense region can be largerthan a single column of pixels in order to effectively sense a receivedtouch or near touch on the touch sensitive device. For example, a senseregion can be formed by vertical common voltage lines yVcom, therebyforming a sense region including columns of pixels. In some embodiments,a sense region can use the vertical common voltage lines yVcom as senselines, which can transmit a touch signal based on a touch or near touchon the touch sensitive device. In the sense region, the vertical commonvoltage lines yVcom can be unconnected from and cross over thehorizontal common voltage lines xVcom to form a mutual capacitancestructure for touch sensing. This cross over of yVcom and xVcom can alsoform additional parasitic capacitance between the sense and drive ITOregions that can be minimized.

It is to be understood that the pixels used to form the touch regionsare not limited to those described above, but can be any suitable pixelshaving touch capabilities according to various embodiments. It is to befurther understood that the combinations of the pixels in the touchregions are not limited to those described above, but can include anysuitable combinations according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touchsensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments. In the example of FIG. 3, touch sensitive device300 can have touch regions, which can include drive regions 310 andsense regions 320. Each drive region 310 can have pixels 303, horizontalcommon voltage lines xVcom 301, and vertical common voltage lines yVcom302, covered by a drive plate. For simplicity, each pixel 303 is shownas a single block, which can represent a set of red, green, and bluesubpixels. The horizontal common voltage lines 301 can connect driveregions 310 in the same row. The vertical common voltage lines 302 canhave breaks 312 between adjacent regions 310, 320 in the same column. Inthe example of FIG. 3, in the left column, the drive region 310illustrated above the sense region 320 can include vertical commonvoltage lines 302 that can have breaks just below the drive region anddo not extend to the sense region. In the right column, the drive region310 illustrated below the sense region 320 can include vertical commonvoltage lines 302 that can have breaks just above the drive region anddo not extend to the sense region. Each sense region 320 can have pixels303 and vertical common voltage lines 302, covered by a sense plate. Thevertical common voltage lines 302 can connect (via connection 321) senseregions 320 in the same diagonal, as will be described below. Thehorizontal common voltage lines 301 can cross underneath 311 the senseregion 320 without electrically connecting to the region.

The drive regions 310 and the sense regions 320 can lie in diagonals toform a diamond configuration. The drive regions 310 in their diagonalscan be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regionsin a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontalcommon voltage lines 301 as drive lines. The sense regions 320 in theirdiagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection321. The connection 321 can be made with the vertical common voltagelines 302 that form the sense regions 320, where the lines can passthrough one sense region, veer diagonally in a backward direction toanother sense region, pass through that sense region, and so on eitherto the next sense region or to touch circuitry.

By the sense regions 320 being disposed in the diamond configuration,some of the horizontal common voltage lines 301 can either cross underthe connection 321 outside of the sense regions 320 or be eliminatedentirely, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance effects caused bythe crossings and/or the sense plate, e.g., an ITO plate, within thesense regions themselves. As a result, more expensive and powerfulsensing circuitry need not be used to, in part, address these parasiticcapacitance effects in order to effectively sense a touch or near touch.These improved effects can similarly be realized in any of the diamondconfigurations described below.

In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines 301 can stimulate thedrive regions 310 with stimulation signals to form electric field linesbetween the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions 320.When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region 310,the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region 320 can be sensedand a corresponding signal transmitted along the vertical common voltagelines 302 of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonallyelectrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touchcircuitry for further processing.

The connection 321 in FIG. 3 has a separate line for each verticalcommon voltage line 302. Alternatively, the connection 321 can tie allof the vertical common voltage lines 302 in a particular sense region320 together and have a single line between sense regions.

In alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines 302 in thesense regions 320 can form a connection between diagonal sense regionsin the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, thevertical common voltage lines 302 in the drive regions 310 can form aconnection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or thebackward diagonal direction.

It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limitedto that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number andconfiguration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels,touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between atouch sensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configurationaccording to various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 4, touchsensitive device 400 can have touch regions, which can include driveregions 410 and sense regions 420, each having pixels 403. The fourboundaries of a pixel 403 can be formed by adjacent forward diagonalcommon voltage lines 401 and adjacent backward diagonal common voltagelines 402. Each drive region 410 can have pixels 403, forward diagonalcommon voltage lines xVcom 401, and backward diagonal common voltagelines yVcom 402. The forward diagonal common voltage lines 401 canconnect drive regions 410 in the same forward diagonal. The backwarddiagonal common voltage lines 402 can have breaks 412 between driveregions in the same backward diagonal. Each sense region 420 can havepixels 403 and backward diagonal common voltage lines 402. The backwarddiagonal common voltage lines 402 can connect sense regions 420 in thesame backward diagonal, as will be described below. The forward diagonalcommon voltage lines 401 can cross underneath 411 the sense region 420without electrically connecting to the region.

The drive regions 410 and the sense regions 420 can lie in diagonals toform a diamond configuration. The drive regions 410 in their forwarddiagonals can be electrically connected to each other via the forwarddiagonal common voltage lines 401 as drive lines, while the driveregions in a row can be separate and unconnected from each other. Thesense regions 420 in their diagonals can be electrically connected toeach other via connection 421. The connection 421 can be made with thebackward diagonal common voltage lines 402 that form the sense regions420, where the lines can pass through each sense region in the backwarddiagonal to the touch circuitry.

In operation, the forward diagonal common voltage lines 401 canstimulate the drive regions 410 with stimulation signals to formelectric field lines between the stimulated drive regions and adjacentsense regions 420. When an object touches or near touches a stimulateddrive region 410, the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region420 can be sensed and a corresponding signal transmitted along thebackward diagonal common voltage lines 402 of that sense region andsubsequent sense regions diagonally electrically connected in thebackward diagonal direction to the touch circuitry for furtherprocessing.

In alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines 402in the sense regions 420 can form a connection between diagonal senseregions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternateembodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines 402 in the driveregions 410 can form a connection between diagonal drive regions ineither the forward or the backward diagonal direction. In furtheralternate embodiments, the forward diagonal common voltage lines 401 inthe sense regions 420 that do not connect to a drive region 410 at allcan be omitted.

It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limitedto that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number andconfiguration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels,touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary layout of connections between atouch sensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configurationaccording to various embodiments. In the example of FIG. 5, touchsensitive device 500 can have touch regions, which can include driveregions 510 and sense regions 520, each including pixels 503. The topand bottom boundaries of a pixel 503 can be formed by adjacenthorizontal common voltage lines 501 and the left and right boundaries ofthe pixel can be formed by adjacent backward diagonal common voltagelines 502. Each drive region 510 can have pixels 503, horizontal commonvoltage lines xVcom 501, and backward diagonal common voltage linesyVcom 502. The horizontal common voltage lines 501 can connect driveregions 510 in the same row. The backward diagonal common voltage lines502 can have breaks 512 between drive regions in the same diagonal. Eachsense region 520 can have pixels 503 and backward diagonal commonvoltage lines 502. The backward diagonal common voltage lines 502 canconnect sense regions 520 in the same diagonal, as will be describedbelow. The horizontal common voltage lines 501 can cross underneath 511the sense region 520 without electrically connecting to the region.

The drive regions 510 and the sense regions 520 can lie in diagonals toform a diamond configuration. The drive regions 510 in their diagonalscan be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regionsin a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontalcommon voltage lines 501 as drive lines. The sense regions 520 in theirdiagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection521. The connection 521 can be made with the backward diagonal commonvoltage lines 502 that form the sense regions 520, where the lines canpass through the sense regions in the diagonal to touch circuitry.

In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines 501 can stimulate thedrive regions 510 with stimulation signals to form electric field linesbetween the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions 520.When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region 510,the adjacent sense region 520 can sense the touch or near touch andtransmit a corresponding signal along the backward diagonal commonvoltage lines 502 of that sense region and subsequent sense regionsdiagonally electrically connected in the backward diagonal direction tothe touch circuitry for further processing.

In alternate embodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines 502in the sense regions 520 can form a connection between diagonal senseregions in the forward diagonal direction. In other alternateembodiments, the backward diagonal common voltage lines 502 in the driveregions 510 can form a connection between diagonal drive regions ineither the forward or the backward diagonal direction. In furtheralternate embodiments, the horizontal common voltage lines 501 can be ina forward or backward diagonal direction and the backward diagonalcommon voltage lines 502 in a vertical direction.

It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limitedto that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number andconfiguration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels,touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. Inthe example of FIG. 6, touch sensitive device 600 can have touchregions, which can include drive (D) regions 610 and sense (S) regions620. The drive regions 610 in a diagonal can be separate and unconnectedfrom each other. The sense regions 620 in a backward diagonal can beelectrically connected to each other via connection 621. The connectionscan be similar to those previously describe in FIGS. 3-5. These driveand sense region diagonals can form a diamond configuration for thetouch sensitive device 600. Unlike the example of FIG. 1, the driveregions 610 and the sense regions 620 can be substantially different insize. For example, the sense regions 620 can be narrower than the driveregions 610. The touch sensitive device 600 can operate in a similarmanner to that described in FIG. 1.

In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the senseregions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in aforward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touchsensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected intheir respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backwarddiagonal directions.

In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can beelectrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally oralternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electricallyconnected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, orboth diagonal directions via their drive lines.

It is to be understood that the configuration of the touch regions in atouch sensitive device is not limited to that shown here, but caninclude any other suitable diagonal, slant, oblique, and the likeconfigurations according to various embodiments. It is further to beunderstood that the touch regions need not form a matrix of rows andcolumns as shown here, but can form any other suitable layout accordingto various embodiments. It is also to be understood that the touchregions are not limited to the rectangular shapes and orientations shownhere, but can include any other suitable shapes and orientationsaccording to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary layout of connections between a touchsensitive device's touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments. In the example of FIG. 7, similar to that of FIG.3, touch sensitive device 700 can have touch regions, which can includedrive regions 710 and sense regions 720. Each drive region 710 can havepixels 703, horizontal common voltage lines xVcom 701, and verticalcommon voltage lines yVcom 702. The horizontal common voltage lines 701can connect drive regions 710 in the same row. The vertical commonvoltage lines 702 can have breaks 712 between drive regions in the samecolumn. Each sense region 720 can have pixels 703 and vertical commonvoltage lines 702. The vertical common voltage lines 702 can connectsense regions 720 in the same diagonal, as will be described below. Thehorizontal common voltage lines 701 can cross underneath 711 the senseregion 720 without electrically connecting to the region.

The drive regions 710 and the sense regions 720 can lie in diagonals toform a diamond configuration. The drive regions 710 in their diagonalscan be separate and unconnected from each other, while the drive regionsin a row can be electrically connected to each other via the horizontalcommon voltage lines 701 as drive lines. The sense regions 720 in theirdiagonals can be electrically connected to each other via connection721. The connection 721 can be made with the vertical common voltagelines 702 that form the sense regions 720, where the lines can passthrough one sense region, veer diagonally in a backward direction toanother sense region, pass through that sense region, and so on eitherto the next sense region or to touch circuitry.

In operation, the horizontal common voltage lines 701 can stimulate thedrive regions 710 with stimulation signals to form electric field linesbetween the stimulated drive regions and adjacent sense regions 720.When an object touches or near touches a stimulated drive region 710,the reduction in charge in the adjacent sense region 720 can be sensedand a corresponding signal transmitted along the vertical common voltagelines 702 of that sense region and subsequent sense regions diagonallyelectrically connected in the backward diagonal direction to the touchcircuitry for further processing.

The connection 721 in FIG. 7 can have a separate line for each verticalcommon voltage line 702 in the sense region 720 or can have a singleline for all the vertical common voltage lines tied together in thesense region.

In alternate embodiments, the vertical common voltage lines 702 in thesense regions 720 can form a connection between diagonal sense regionsin the forward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, thevertical common voltage lines 702 in the drive regions 710 can form aconnection between diagonal drive regions in either the forward or thebackward diagonal direction.

Other layouts similar to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 can also be used.

It is to be understood that the layout of the connections is not limitedto that shown, but can include any suitable layout, e.g., any number andconfiguration of horizontal and vertical common voltage lines, pixels,touch regions, and so on, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. Inthe example of FIG. 8, touch sensitive device 800 can have touchregions, which can include drive (D) regions 810 and sense (S) regions820. The drive regions 810 in a diagonal can be separate and unconnectedfrom each other. The sense regions 820 in a forward diagonal can beelectrically connected to each other via connection 821. The connection821 can involve combinations of horizontal, vertical, and diagonalcommon voltage lines as described in FIGS. 3-5. These drive and senseregion diagonals can form a diamond configuration for the touchsensitive device 800. Like the example of FIG. 6, the drive regions 810and the sense regions 820 can be substantially different in size. Forexample, the sense regions 820 can be narrower than the drive regions810. The touch sensitive device 800 can operate in a similar manner tothat described in FIG. 1.

In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the senseregions electrically connected in their respective diagonals in abackward diagonal direction. In other alternate embodiments, the touchsensitive device can have the sense regions electrically connected intheir respective diagonals in a combination of forward and backwarddiagonal directions.

In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can beelectrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally oralternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electricallyconnected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, orboth diagonal directions via their drive lines.

FIG. 9 illustrates another exemplary touch sensitive device having touchregions in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. Inthe example of FIG. 9, touch sensitive device 900 can have touchregions, which can include drive (D) regions 910 and sense (S) regions920. The drive regions 910 in a diagonal can be separate and unconnectedfrom each other. The sense regions 920 can extend in a forward diagonal.Unlike other examples, the sense regions 920 can form single regions,rather than separate regions connected in a diagonal via connections.These drive and sense region diagonals can form a diamond configurationof the touch regions for the touch sensitive device 900. The driveregions 910 and the sense regions 920 can be substantially different insize. For example, the sense regions 920 can be narrower and longer thanthe drive regions 910. The touch sensitive device 900 can operate in asimilar manner to that described in FIG. 1.

In alternate embodiments, the touch sensitive device can have the senseregions extend in a backward diagonal. In other alternate embodiments,the sense regions can extend in a combination of forward and backwarddiagonals.

In some embodiments, one or more of the drive regions in a row can beelectrically connected together via their drive lines. Optionally oralternatively, one or more of the drive regions can be electricallyconnected in their respective diagonals in the forward, backward, orboth diagonal directions via their drive lines.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary computing system that can include oneor more of the various embodiments described herein. In the example ofFIG. 10, computing system 1000 can include one or more panel processors1002 and peripherals 1004, and panel subsystem 1006. Peripherals 1004can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or othertypes of memory or storage, watchdog timers and the like. Panelsubsystem 1006 can include, but is not limited to, one or more sensechannels 1008, channel scan logic (analog or digital) 1010 and driverlogic (analog or digital) 1014. Channel scan logic 1010 can access RAM1012, autonomously read data from sense channels 1008 and providecontrol signals 1017 for the sense channels. In addition, channel scanlogic 1010 can control driver logic 1014 to generate stimulation signals1016 at various phases that can be simultaneously applied to driveregions of touch screen 1024. Panel subsystem 1006 can operate at a lowdigital logic voltage level (e.g. 1.7 to 3.3V). Driver logic 1014 cangenerate a supply voltage greater that the digital logic level supplyvoltages by cascading two charge storage devices, e.g., capacitors,together to form charge pump 1015. Charge pump 1015 can be used togenerate stimulation signals 1016 that can have amplitudes of abouttwice the digital logic level supply voltages (e.g. 3.4 to 6.6V).Although FIG. 10 shows charge pump 1015 separate from driver logic 1014,the charge pump can be part of the driver logic. In some embodiments,panel subsystem 1006, panel processor 1002 and peripherals 1004 can beintegrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Touch screen 1024 (i.e., a touch sensitive device) can include acapacitive sensing medium having drive regions 1029 and sense regions1027 in a diamond configuration according to various embodiments. Thesense regions 1027 can be electrically connected along their respectivediagonals with connections 1021. Each drive region 1029 and each senseregion 1027 can include capacitive elements, which can be viewed aspixels and which can be particularly useful when touch screen 1024 isviewed as capturing an “image” of touch during touch mode of the touchscreen. (In other words, after panel subsystem 1006 has determinedwhether a touch event has been detected at each touch sensor in thetouch screen, the pattern of touch sensors in the multi-touch panel atwhich a touch event occurred can be viewed as an “image” of touch (e.g.a pattern of fingers touching the panel).) The presence of a finger orother object near or on the touch screen can be detected by measuringchanges to a signal charge present at the pixels being touched, which isa function of Csig. Each sense region 1027 of touch screen 1024 candrive sense channel 1008 in panel subsystem 1006. During display mode,the pixels can be used to display graphics or data on touch screen 1024during display mode.

Computing system 1000 can also include host processor 1028 for receivingoutputs from panel processor 1002 and performing actions based on theoutputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving one or moreobjects such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjustingcontrol settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making aselection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device coupledto the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephonecall, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume or audiosettings, storing information related to telephone communications suchas addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls,logging onto a computer or a computer network, permitting authorizedindividuals access to restricted areas of the computer or computernetwork, loading a user profile associated with a user's preferredarrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to web content,launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding a message, and/orthe like. Host processor 1028 can also perform additional functions thatmay not be related to panel processing, and can be coupled to programstorage 1032 and touch screen 1024 such as an LCD for providing a userinterface to a user of the device.

Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performedby firmware stored in memory (e.g. one of the peripherals 1004 in FIG.10) and executed by panel processor 1002, or stored in program storage1032 and executed by host processor 1028. The firmware can also bestored and/or transported within any computer-readable storage mediumfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system,processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch theinstructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or deviceand execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a“computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium that can contain orstore the program for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device. The computer-readable storagemedium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatusor device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random accessmemory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portableoptical disc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or flashmemory such as compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memorydevices, memory sticks, and the like.

The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for useby or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. Inthe context of this document, a “transport medium” can be any mediumthat can communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by orin connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice. The transport readable medium can include, but is not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wiredor wireless propagation medium.

It is to be understood that the touch screen is not limited to touch, asdescribed in FIG. 10, but may be a proximity screen or any other screenswitchable between a display mode, in which the screen pixels can beused to display graphics or data, and another mode, in which the screenpixels can be used for another function, according to variousembodiments. In addition, the touch screen described herein can beeither a single-touch or a multi-touch screen.

FIG. 11a illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone 1136 that can includetouch screen 1124 having touch regions in a diamond configuration andother computing system blocks that can be utilized for the telephone.

FIG. 11b illustrates an exemplary digital media player 1140 that caninclude touch screen 1124 having touch regions in a diamondconfiguration and other computing system blocks that can be utilized forthe media player.

FIG. 11c illustrates an exemplary personal computer 1144 that caninclude touch screen 1124 having touch regions in a diamondconfiguration, touch sensor panel (trackpad) 1126 having touch regionsin a diamond configuration, and other computing system blocks that canbe utilized for the personal computer.

The mobile telephone, media player, and personal computer of FIGS. 11a,11b and 11c can realize cost and power savings by utilizing touchscreens having touch regions in a diamond configuration according tovarious embodiments.

Although various embodiments have been fully described with reference tothe accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes andmodifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are to be understood as being included withinthe scope of embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch sensor panel comprising: a plurality oflinear drive region configurations configured to receive one or morestimulation signals; and a plurality of linear sense regionconfigurations configured to transmit one or more touch signals based onthe one or more stimulation signals, the one or more touch signalscorresponding to a touch event at the touch sensor panel, wherein theplurality of linear drive region configurations are non-orthogonallydisposed with respect to the plurality of linear sense regionconfigurations.
 2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein each ofthe plurality of linear drive region configurations comprises aplurality of drive regions, the plurality of drive regions electricallycoupled together and linearly disposed in the linear drive regionconfiguration.
 3. The touch sensor panel of claim 2, further comprising:a plurality of first common voltage lines configured to electricallycouple the plurality of drive regions.
 4. The touch sensor panel ofclaim 2, further comprising: a first plurality of display pixels coupledtogether to form one or more of the plurality of drive regions, whereinthe first plurality of display pixels are coupled to a first transparentconductive plate for a touch mode.
 5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1,wherein the plurality of linear drive region configurations are orientedin a first direction, the touch sensor panel further comprising: aplurality of first common voltage lines included in each drive region,wherein the first common voltage lines are oriented in a seconddirection, different from the first direction; and one or more breaks inat least some of the plurality of first common voltage lines.
 6. Thetouch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of linearsense region configurations comprises a plurality of sense regions, theplurality of sense regions electrically coupled together and linearlydisposed in the linear sense region configuration.
 7. The touch sensorpanel of claim 6, wherein the plurality of sense regions in at least oneof the plurality of linear sense region configurations are electricallycoupled in a forward diagonal direction.
 8. The touch sensor panel ofclaim 6, wherein the plurality of sense regions in at least one of theplurality of linear sense region configurations are electrically coupledin a backward diagonal direction.
 9. The touch sensor panel of claim 6,further comprising: a plurality of second common voltage linesconfigured to electrically couple the plurality of sense regions. 10.The touch sensor panel of claim 9, further comprising: a plurality ofdrive regions included in the plurality of linear drive regionconfigurations; and a plurality of first common voltage lines configuredto electrically couple the plurality of drive regions, wherein aparasitic capacitive coupling between the plurality of first and theplurality of second common voltage lines in the plurality of senseregions is less than a parasitic capacitive coupling between theplurality of first and the plurality of second common voltage lines inthe plurality of drive regions.
 11. The touch sensor panel of claim 6,further comprising: a second plurality of display pixels coupledtogether to form one or more of the plurality of sense regions, whereinthe second plurality of display pixels are coupled to a secondtransparent conductive plate for a touch mode.
 12. The touch sensorpanel of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of linear drive regionconfigurations comprises a plurality of drive regions, the touch sensorpanel further comprising: a plurality of first areas configured toseparate adjacent drive regions and adjacent sense regions, wherein theplurality of sense regions are electrically coupled in the plurality offirst areas; and a plurality of second areas, separate and distinct fromthe plurality of first areas, wherein the plurality of drive regions areelectrically coupled in the plurality of second areas.
 13. The touchsensor panel of claim 12, wherein the plurality of first areas includesa plurality of second common voltage lines, each second common voltageline forming a zigzag.
 14. The touch sensor panel of claim 6, furthercomprising: a plurality of second common voltage lines included in eachsense region; a plurality of third areas configured to separate adjacentsense regions included in the plurality of linear sense regionconfigurations; and a plurality of third common voltage lines, eachthird common voltage line configured to electrically couple theplurality of second common voltage lines in each sense region, whereineach third common voltage line is a single line disposed in one of theplurality of third areas.
 15. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of sense regions included in the plurality oflinear sense region configurations; a plurality of drive regionsincluded in the plurality of linear drive region configurations; and aplurality of first common voltage lines, each first common voltage lineconfigured to electrically couple the plurality of drive regions,wherein a number of first common voltage lines in each sense region isless than a number of first common voltage lines in each drive region.16. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising: a pluralityof sense regions included in the plurality of linear sense regionconfigurations; a plurality of drive regions included in the pluralityof linear drive region configurations; and a plurality of second commonvoltage lines, each second common voltage line configured toelectrically couple the plurality of sense regions, wherein a number ofsecond common voltage lines in each sense region is less than a numberof second common voltage lines in each drive region.
 17. The touchsensor panel of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of senseregions included in the plurality of linear sense regionsconfigurations; a plurality of drive regions included in the pluralityof linear drive regions configurations, wherein the plurality of senseregions and plurality of drive regions form a matrix of non-orthogonalrows and columns, and further wherein drive regions located in adjacentrows or columns are staggered and sense regions located in adjacent rowsor columns are staggered.
 18. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, whereineach of the plurality of linear sense region configurations includes asingle sense region.
 19. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein anumber of sense regions included in the touch sensor panel is less thana number of drive regions.
 20. The touch sensor panel of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of drive regions included in theplurality of linear drive region configurations; a plurality of firstcommon voltage lines configured to electrically couple drive regions; aplurality of sense regions included in the plurality of linear senseregion configurations; and a plurality of second common voltage linesconfigured to electrically couple sense regions, wherein the pluralityof first common voltage lines are non-orthogonally disposed with respectto the plurality of second common voltage lines.
 21. The touch sensorpanel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of linear drive regionconfigurations intersect with the plurality of linear sense regionconfigurations on the touch sensor panel.
 22. A method for operating atouch sensor panel, the method comprising: driving a plurality of lineardrive region configurations with one or more stimulation signals; andsensing one or more touch signals, based on the one or more stimulationsignals, on a plurality of linear sense region configurations, the oneor more touch signals corresponding to a touch event at the touch sensorpanel, wherein the plurality of linear drive region configurations arenon-orthogonally disposed with respect to the plurality of linear senseregion configurations.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the pluralityof linear drive region configurations intersect with the plurality oflinear sense region configurations on the touch sensor panel.
 24. Themethod of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of linear drive regionconfigurations comprises a plurality of drive regions, the plurality ofdrive regions electrically coupled together and linearly disposed in thelinear drive region configuration.
 25. The method of claim 22, whereineach of the plurality of linear sense region configurations comprises aplurality of sense regions, the plurality of sense regions electricallycoupled together and linearly disposed in the linear sense regionconfiguration.